U.S. patent application number 12/596610 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-16 for system and method for ice making of refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Si-Yeon An, Seong-Wook Kim.
Application Number | 20100229574 12/596610 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39875613 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100229574 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
An; Si-Yeon ; et
al. |
September 16, 2010 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ICE MAKING OF REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
The present invention relates to a system and a method for ice
making of a refrigerator and, more particularly, to an ice maker of
a refrigerator, which reduces unnecessary power consumption by
controlling the operation of a heater according to the presence of
a liquid for freezing.
Inventors: |
An; Si-Yeon; (Changwon City,
KR) ; Kim; Seong-Wook; (Changwon City, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
39875613 |
Appl. No.: |
12/596610 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
April 7, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR08/01945 |
371 Date: |
April 2, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/73 ;
62/351 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 5/08 20130101; F25C
2600/04 20130101; F25C 2700/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/73 ;
62/351 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/08 20060101
F25C005/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 20, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0038694 |
Claims
1. An ice making system of a refrigerator, comprising: a tray in
which water for making ice is received; a control unit for
determining whether water is supplied into the tray and whether an
ice making process is finished; an input unit for inputting an
ice-making command to the control unit; a water supply unit for
supplying water into the tray; a heater for heating the tray when
the ice making process is finished; and an ejector for separating
ice formed in the tray, wherein the heater is selectively operated
according to whether water is supplied into the tray or not.
2. The ice making system according to claim 1, wherein the heater
is operated only when water is supplied into the tray.
3. The ice making system according to claim 2, wherein the heater
is operated according to whether the rotation of the ejector is
achieved within a preset time period.
4. The ice making system according to claim 2, wherein the ejector
is rotated when the heater is operated, and wherein the heater
stops operating when the ejector is returned to its original
position.
5. A method for ice making of a refrigerator, comprising the steps
of: supplying cold air into a tray as an ice making mode is on;
measuring surface temperature of the tray; rotating an ejector
according to the surface temperature of the tray; determining
whether the ejector is returned to its original position within a
preset time period; and supplying water or operating a heater
according to the determined result.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein if the ejector is
returned to its original position within the preset time period,
the water supply process is carried out as it is determined that
water is not supplied into the tray.
7. The method according to claim 5, wherein if the ejector is
returned to its original position within the preset time period,
water supply signal or water supply error signal is displayed.
8. The method according to claim 5, wherein if the ejector is not
returned to its original position within the preset time period,
the heater operates as it is determined that the ice making process
is completed.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the ejector is rotated
as soon as the heater starts to operate.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the heater operates
until an ice moving process is completed.
11. The method according to claim 5, wherein the water supply
process is carried out before supplying cold air.
12. The method according to claim 5, wherein it is determined that
the water supply process is completed if a preset time has been
elapsed after supplying water.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This document relates to a system and a method for ice
making of a refrigerator.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A typical refrigerator is divided in a refrigerating chamber
and a freezing chamber, where the refrigerating chamber is
maintained at a temperature of about 3-4.degree. C. to freshly
store foodstuffs and vegetables for a long time and the freezing
chamber is maintained at a subzero temperature to store meats and
foodstuffs in a frozen state.
[0003] In recent years, an ice maker, which allows to easily get
ice-cubes by automatically accomplishing a series of processes
related to the ice-making without need for operating it, and a
dispenser, which allows to dispense ice-cubes or water from the
outside, have been added to the refrigerator so that users may
appreciate the convenience of them.
[0004] The general ice maker includes a tray constituting an ice
making chamber in which ice-cubes are formed, a water supply unit
formed at one side of the tray to supply water into the ice making
chamber, a heater installed at a lower surface of the tray, an
ejector for discharging ice-cubes formed in the tray to the
outside, a drive motor for driving the ejector, an ice bank for
storing ice-cubes formed in the tray after receiving them, and an
ice full sensing device for detecting the amount of ice filled in
the ice bank.
[0005] The water supply unit may be connected to a water supply
source disposed at the outside of the refrigerator or may be a
water container such as a water tank itself, and it supplies water
into the tray.
[0006] The heater is installed at the lower surface of the tray,
and it allows ice cubes to be easily separated from the tray as the
ice-cubes are melt by heating the tray.
[0007] The ejector discharges ice-cubes from the tray as it is
rotated by the drive motor.
[0008] Meanwhile, the conventional ice maker determines whether
liquid in the tray is completely frozen or not by means of the
temperature value of the tray. In other words, a control unit does
not check whether liquid or a frozen object is placed in the tray
at all. Therefore, an ice moving process is carried out when the
temperature of the ice making container is equal to the
predetermined temperature, even though no water is supplied into
the tray by some reason. That is, the heat is operated to move
ice-cubes.
[0009] According to this controlling method, there is a problem in
that unnecessary power consumption is generated.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0010] The present invention is proposed to solve this and other
problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an
ice maker and a method for ice making of a refrigerator, which is
capable of checking whether liquid is present in an ice making
container before moving ice-cubes.
Technical Solution
[0011] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, there is provided an ice making system of
a refrigerator, including: a tray in which water for making ice is
received; a control unit for determining whether water is supplied
into the tray and whether an ice making process is finished; an
input unit for inputting an ice-making command to the control unit;
a water supply unit for supplying water into the tray; a heater for
heating the tray when the ice making process is finished; and an
ejector for separating ice formed in the tray, wherein the heater
is selectively operated according to whether water is supplied into
the tray or not.
[0012] Also, in another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method for ice making of a refrigerator, including the
steps of: supplying cold air into a tray as an ice making mode is
turned on; measuring surface temperature of the tray; rotating an
ejector according to the surface temperature of the tray;
determining whether the ejector is returned to its original
position within a preset time period; and
[0013] supplying water or operating a heater according to the
determined result.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS
[0014] The ice making system and method of the refrigerator
according to the embodiments of the present invention may check
whether liquid is present in the tray or not, and thus, control and
display thereof may be accomplished.
[0015] Also, power consumption is reduced by eliminating
unnecessary heat generation of a heater and unnecessary operation
of a motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ice maker
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an ice making system of a
refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for ice making, which
is accomplished in an ice making system according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
MODE FOR THE INVENTION
[0019] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of present invention
will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. However, the concept of the present invention is not to
be limited to these embodiments and those skilled in the art will
appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions
are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
[0020] FIG. 1 shows an ice maker according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention in an external perspective
view.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the ice maker 10 according to the
preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a tray 12 in
which water for ice-making is received, an ejector 14 provided at
an upper side of the tray 12 to scoop the made ice, a control box
11 provided at a side of the tray 12, and an ice detecting lever
16, of which one end is pivotably connected to the control box 11
and the other end is pivotably connected to one end of the tray
12.
[0022] Specifically, a drive motor is provided in the control box
11 to rotate the ejector 14. And, an ice full sensor 35 is
installed in the control box 11, and the ice full sensor 35 is
connected with an end of the ice detecting lever 16.
[0023] More particularly, the ice full sensor 35 detects whether
ice cubes are fully filled in an ice storage container by sensing
rotation angle of the ice detecting lever 16. For example, if the
ice detecting lever 16 is rotated within a predetermined angle, the
ice making mode may be finished by determining that ice cubes are
fully filled therein.
[0024] Also, the tray 12 is made of a highly heat conductive
material, for example aluminium. And, water supply into the tray 12
is accomplished by a water supply guide 4 formed at one side.
[0025] Also, in order to determine whether ice making is completed,
a temperature sensor 39 for detecting the temperature of the tray
12 is installed at the lower part of the tray 12.
[0026] Also, a heater 33, which is to apply a small amount of heat
so that the finished ice is separated from the tray 12, is
installed at the lower part of the tray 12. Therefore, if the ice
making process is finished as cold air is supplied for a
predetermined time, the heater 33 generates heat and ice attached
to a surface of the tray 12 is spaced therefrom. The ice, which is
spaced in this way, is separated from the tray by rotation of the
ejector 14. And, the ice, which is separated in this way, is
dropped into an ice storage container (not shown) disposed at the
lower side. Here, a stripper 6 is provided on the upper surface of
a front side of the tray 12 in order to prevent the separated ice
from re-introducing into the tray 12. The strippers 6 are arranged
from a front plate 18 to the rear at regularly spaced intervals.
And, during the ice moving process, the ejector 14 is rotated and
passed between adjacent strippers 6.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows an ice making system of a refrigerator
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a
block diagram.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, the ice making system 30 according to
the embodiment of the present invention includes a timer 31 for
determining current time or time period, a water supply valve 32
for controlling the amount of water supplied into a tray 12, a
heater 33 generating heat for detaching ice cubes from the tray, a
drive motor 34 for driving an ejector 14 and the like, an ice full
sensor 35 for detecting whether ice cubes are fully loaded in an
ice storage container, a temperature sensor 39 for detecting
surface temperature of the tray, an input unit 36 for receiving
commands related to the operation of the ice maker (hereinafter,
referred to as an "operation control command") from the user, a
display unit 37 for displaying information about the operational
state of the refrigerator or ice maker to the user, and a control
unit 38 for automatically accomplishing a series of ice-making
processes.
[0029] Specifically, the timer 31 calculates information about
current date and time (for example, current year date, time and
elapsed time) and send the information to the control unit 38. The
timer 31 may be a program embedded in a microprocessor in the
control unit 38.
[0030] The water supply valve 32, heater 33, drive motor 34, ice
full sensor 35 and temperature sensor 39 carry out their own
functions to make ice, as described in the above. However, the
water supply valve 32 may supply water or liquid (for example,
juices) to the tray 12, as it is connected to the water supply
source, such as waterworks, or the storage container, such as water
tanks.
[0031] Also, the input unit 36 is to input the operation control
command from the user, it may be a conventional button key, a
static electric type key or an input means, such as a touch pad,
attached to a front of the display unit 37. This operation control
command relates to an operation of the ice maker, for example if
the ice making command is input, the ice maker always carries out
the ice making process according to the given command until other
commands are input. Or, if the ice making cease command is input,
the ice maker promptly ceases the ongoing ice making process and
maintains this state until other commands are input. Alternately,
the operation control command relates to an input about the
operational time period of the ice maker, it may be composed of a
start time for the ice making (for example, hours 08-20) and/or a
close time for the ice making (for example, hours 21-07).
[0032] Also, the display unit 37 displays information about the
operational state of the refrigerator and/or ice maker. That is,
the display unit 37 may display information, such as whether the
ice maker is in use, the state where the ice making command is
input, the state where the ice making cease command is input, or
whether the operational time period is set.
[0033] Also, the display unit 37 may further display the state of
the refrigerator (for example, a preset temperature of the freezing
chamber, a preset temperature of the refrigerating chamber, a
service mode of the dispenser, current time and date and
weather).
[0034] Also, the control unit 38 may serve to control the freezing
and refrigerating processes as well as the ice making process,
however the explanation thereof will be omitted here.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows a method for ice making, which is accomplished
in an ice making system according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention in a flowchart.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, an ice making mode is on by means of
the input command by the user or the reservation command (S10).
Further, water supply is started (S11), and the water supply is
stopped (S13) after elapsing a predetermined time period (S12).
[0037] Specifically, if the water supply process is finished, cold
air is supplied into the tray 12 (S14). Further, it is determined
that whether the temperature of the tray 12 is dropped below the
preset temperature (around -5.degree. C.), as the temperature of
the tray 12 is detected by the temperature sensor 39 (S15).
Further, if the surface temperature of the tray is dropped below
the preset temperature, it is determined that the ice making
process is completed and therefore the ejector 14 is rotated (S16).
Further, it is determined that the preset time is elapsed (S17),
the rotation of the drive motor is stopped when the preset time is
elapsed (S18). Here, the preset time refers to a time period that
allows the ejector to be rotated for a round in the state that no
water is received in the tray 12 or before freezing.
[0038] More specifically, it is determined whether the ejector 14
is returned to its original position within a predetermined time
period (S19). And, if the ejector 14 is returned to its original
position within the predetermined time period, the display unit 37
may display no water signal, water supply informing signal or water
supply valve warning signal (S20), as the control unit 38 concluded
that no water is supplied into the tray 12.
[0039] As another method, it is also possible to carry out the
water supply process (S11) for one more time without displaying the
water supply informing signal or warning signal on the display unit
37.
[0040] Meanwhile, if the ejector 14 is not returned to its original
position within the predetermined time period, that is, in case
that the rotation of the ejector 14 is not achieved, the heater
starts to operate as it is determined that the ice making process
is completed (S21). And, the ejector 14 is rotated simultaneously
with or with a certain time lag after the operation of the heater
(S22). Specifically, the tray 12 is instantaneously heated by
operating the heater 33, ice cubes are separated from the tray as
the ejector 14 is rotated.
[0041] Also, it is determined whether the ejector is returned to
its original position (S23), the heater stops to operate as the ice
moving process is determined to be completed (S24).
[0042] According to the control method, the control unit may
determined whether water is supplied into the tray 12, and
unnecessary power consumption may be prevented as the heater is
stopped while water is not supplied.
* * * * *